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Poll: 51 percent don’t want assault weapons ban

A slight majority of Americans do not want assault weapons banned in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting, though a clear majority said they support stricter gun laws in general, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll out Wednesday.

Specifically on an assault weapons ban, 51 percent of respondents were against the measure, while 44 percent said they support it, the poll said. That remains largely unchanged from an October 2011 poll that had 43 percent for and 51 percent against a ban.

the gun bans and assault weapon bans have been proven tot to work ,,check out the over 400 kids shot in chicago alone this year with the toughest laws and bans in the country!Typical politics..it hasnt worked so lets do it again! Lets make the mental health dr.s who let these nuts out in public be responsible!Sorry but criminals and nut jobs really dont care about your laws and never will!

This is sheer insanity. While I'm a gun owner and proud of it, I have no objection whatsoever to enforcing stricter gun control laws and banning assault rifles for everyone but the military and law enforcement. Assault weapons are NOT normally used for hunting and everyday citizens have no need of them. As for regular handguns, I see no reason at all to ban them at all. If handguns are kept in the hands of responsible gun owners who have obtained them within the law and maintained them as law abiding citizens, I have no problem with that. The real problem in this country is a "for profit health care system" which many times excludes those with mental health problems because they cannot afford care, a anybody can buy a gun mentality that exists including internet sales, a very poor economic condition which breeds crime and violence, and an open border which invites an uncontrolled gun trade business. There are more, but these are the crucst of the problems. The futility in banning guns lies in the governments ability to reclaim those guns already in circulation and ownership. You will never be able to reclaim those guns and violence will continue to exist due to that reason. We have to do something though, and I'm just glad that I am not charged with finding a solution to this issue because it's a multi faceted one that is challenging if not impossible.

mlwm, you must be denied news coverage as well as newpaper coverage. Obama is NOT and I repeal NOT the only one who believes in a ban on assault rifles. By your anger, I'm assuming you must be a Republican and as such you should know that many Republicans also share this view. To blame this President for incidents that have happened on his watch and public reaction is what really STUPID. Any idiot knows that something has to be done even if they don't know exactly what. Having visited Europe many times I can tell you straight out that they seldom have incidents like we are experiencing here in the U.S.. The reason? Because they have strict gun control laws, educational requirements for gun owners, and renewable licenses based upon mental health and general health. It works fine over there and nobody minds. Guns are not banned either, they just have to be in the hands of sane, responsible owners. To maintain that the present system of gun ownership here in this country is working is not only stupid, it's insane and to continue to think that limitations on gun ownership is a threat to our 2nd Amendment is equally insane no matter who the President is.

Anytime the gov't has banned guns the people are slaughtered by the millions. In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control and from 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control and from 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were r ounded up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935 and from 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964 and from 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970 and from 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956 and from 1975 to 1977, one million educated' people, unable to defend themselves, w ere rounded up and exterminated.

Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Amin, Pot...

Do these names not show by example? How can anyone justify banning firearms with these statistics?